In anticipation for the upcoming Oscars, the Fat Kids are making Oscar picks. Here are the picks for the Mug. They are RANKED in order from choicest pick at the top, to suckiest at the bottom. The films that have not been seen are marked “N/A”. And for the record, best leading actor should have gone to Ryan Gosling for Blue Valentine.

BEST PICTURE

Black Swan

The Social Network
The Fighter
The King’s Speech
True Grit
Winter’s Bone
The Kids Are All Right
Toy Story 3
Inception
127 Hours (N/A)

ACTRESS IN LEADING ROLE

Natalie Portman

Nicole Kidman
Michelle Williams
Jennifer Lawrence
Annette Bening

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Colin Firth

Jeff Bridges
Jesse Eisenberg
James Franco (N/A)
Javier Bardem (N/A)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Hailee Steinfield

Melissa Leo
Amy Adams
Helena Bonham Carter
Jacki Weaver (N/A)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale

John Hawkes
Geoffrey Rush
Mark Ruffalo
Jeremy Renner (N/A)

DIRECTING

Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan

David O. Russel for The Fighter
David Fincher for The Social Network
Tom Hopper for The King’s Speech
Coen Brothers for True Grit

Colin Firth…oh you have aged, but I still wouldn’t kick you outta bed. Even with that stammer and grim stare, you’re awfully adorable. So I have been cramming in some oscar nominated films I haven’t gotten around to yet, and the king’s speech has been on my list, since it’s a frontwinner to win the oscar’s. Oscar-worthy? Probably. Was it better than the Social Network? Possibly.

The story about King George the VI’s speech impediment was one I had never heard of before, and the film made it quite clear how incredible awkward and uncomfortable it was to listen to the former King of England. Good points to the film: great acting by Colin Firth, historical story I was not familiar with, likability of characters. Not so good points: story kind of dragged a bit, not the best roles for Helena Bonham Carter or Geoffrey Rush, and well, it was about a bunch of old dead white folks. Like there haven’t been about a million and one movies written about old dead white folks. There seemed to be definitely chemistry between the main characters, you could believe that they genuinely liked each other. Not terribly ground-breaking or innovative, there were some interesting camera shots that I think haven’t been tried in these types of traditional Victorian-esque films, but not a bad film all around. I think I just would have liked it better if it didn’t remind me so much of Howard’s End or Remains of the Day or any other dozen movies out there of old English people.

That said, it was enjoyable, one of the better movies I’ve seen in the last year for sure….$9

If you heart The King’s Speech:
Recommendations from …:
Young Victoria
Remains of the Day
Howard’s End